Recording medium, method of configuring control information thereof, recording and reproducing method using the same, and apparatus thereof

ABSTRACT

In a recordable optical disc including at least one recording layer, write strategy information is recorded within disc control information, so that standardized disc control information can be uniformly applied to data recording and reproduction. At least one disc information is recorded as the disc control information within the management area. The disc control information is recorded per at least one write strategy type for a same writing speed and recording layer. The write strategy type recorded in the corresponding disc information is determined by recording write strategy parameters of the optionally determined write strategy type among applicable write strategy types.

This application claims the benefit of the Korean Application No.10-2003-0056540 filed on Aug. 14, 2003, and No. 10-2003-0065628 filed onSep. 22, 2003, which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to recording media, and more particularly,to a method of recording disc control information on a recordableoptical disc including at least one recording layer, in which writestrategy information is included within the recorded disc controlinformation, and to method of recording data using the disc controlinformation recorded in a specific area of the recordable optical disc.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

A high density optical recording medium, known as HD-DVD, is widely usedto record and store high-definition video data and high-quality audiodata. The Blu-ray disc represents next-generation HD-DVD technology.

Technological specifications are now being established for the globalstandardization of the Blu-ray disc, including standards are for thewrite-once Blu-ray disc (BD-WO). Meanwhile, a rewritable Blu-ray disc,known as the 1×-speed BD-RE and now being discussed, should becompatible with BD-RE discs expected to have higher recordingvelocities, i.e., the 2×-speed BD-RE and beyond. BD-WO specificationsfor high recording velocity are also in progress. Efficient solutionsfor coping with the high recording velocity of a high-density opticaldisc are urgently needed, and the specifications established shouldensure mutual compatibility.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a disc controlinformation recording method that substantially obviates one or moreproblems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method of recordingdisc control information corresponding to high writing speed, by whichwrite strategy information is included within disc control informationprerecorded on a recording medium and by which recording on andreproducing from the recording medium can be performed based on recordeddisc information.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a data structurefor configuring disc control information.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method ofrecording disc control information which includes write strategyinformation for coping with high writing speeds, to achievecompatibility between like-based recording media.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a recordingmedium, recording and reproducing method, and apparatus suitable for usewith the above disc control information recording methods.

Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will beset forth in part in the description which follows and in part willbecome apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art uponexamination of the following or may be learned from practice of theinvention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may berealized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in thewritten description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with thepurpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, adata structure of a control information for use with a recording mediumhaving at least one recording layer, wherein the control informationincluding at least one information unit for a writing speed andrecording layer, characterized in that the information unit includeswrite strategy parameters for first write strategy type to be used forthe writing speed and recording layer, wherein the first write strategytype is one of a plurality of write strategy types applicable to thesame writing speed and recording layer, and the first write strategytype is mandatory type to be used necessarily for at least the specificwriting speed or a preferred type determined based on a preference amongthe plurality of write strategy types applicable to the same writingspeed and recording layer.

In another aspect of the present invention, an optical recording mediumincludes the control information by the data structure.

In another aspect of the present invention, a recording method includessteps of reading a control information, the control informationincluding at least one information unit for a writing speed andrecording layer, characterized in that the information unit includeswrite strategy parameters for first write strategy type to be used forthe writing speed and recording layer, wherein the first write strategytype is one of a plurality of write strategy types applicable to thesame writing speed and recording layer, and the first write strategytype is mandatory type to be used necessarily for at least the specificwriting speed or a preferred type determined based on a preference amongthe plurality of write strategy types applicable to the same writingspeed and recording layer; and recording data on a specific recordinglayer at a specific writing speed based on the at least one informationunit.

In another aspect of the present invention, A recording method includessteps of reading a control information, the control informationincluding first information unit for a writing speed and recording layerand second information unit for the same writing speed and recordinglayer, characterized in that the first information unit includes writestrategy parameters for first write strategy type to be used for thewriting speed and recording layer, wherein the first write strategy typeis one of a plurality of write strategy types applicable to the samewriting speed and recording layer, and the first write strategy type ismandatory type to be used necessarily for at least the specific writingspeed or a preferred type determined based on a preference among theplurality of write strategy types applicable to the same writing speedand recording layer, and the second information unit for the samewriting speed and recording layer includes write strategy parameters forsecond write strategy type different from the first write strategy type,wherein the second write strategy type is an optionally or alternativetype to use optionally or alternatively for at least the same writingspeed; and recording data on a specific recording layer at a specificwriting speed based on at least one information unit among the firstinformation unit and the second information unit.

In another aspect of the present invention, an optical disc comprisingat least one recording layer provided with a recordable area and arecording-disabled or prerecorded area is characterized in that aplurality of disc informations are recorded within the prerecorded area,a plurality of the disc informations are arranged in a specific orderper a writing speed and per the recording layer, at least one of aplurality of the disc informations is recorded for a same writing speedand recording layer according to a write strategy type, and a preferredWS information decided in an optional manner is recorded in a front oneof a plurality of the disc informations recorded for the same writingspeed and recording layer.

In another aspect of the present invention, an optical disc recordingmethod includes the steps of if an optical disc having at least onerecording layer is loaded, reading a plurality of disc controlinformations and reading to store write strategy parameters fitting acorresponding writing speed recorded within each of a plurality of thedisc control informations wherein a plurality of the disc controlinformations are arranged within a management area of the optical discin a specific order per a writing speed and recording layer and whereinat least one of a plurality of the disc informations is recordedaccording to a write strategy type for a same writing speed andrecording layer and performing a recording on a specific recording layerat a specific writing speed by referring to the disc controlinformations for a specific writing speed and recording layer among aplurality of the stored disc informations using the disc informationincluding a preferred write strategy therein among the correspondingdisc informations preferentially.

In another aspect of the present invention, a recording method includessteps of reading a control information, the control informationincluding first information unit for a lower writing speed and arecording layer, characterized in that the first information unitincludes write strategy parameters for first write strategy type to beused for the writing speed and recording layer, wherein the first writestrategy type is one of a plurality of write strategy types applicableto the same writing speed and recording layer, and the first writestrategy type is mandatory type to be used necessarily for at least thespecific writing speed or a preferred type determined based on apreference among the plurality of write strategy types applicable to thesame writing speed and recording layer, and second information unit fora higher writing speed and the same recording layer, the secondinformation unit includes write strategy parameters for second writestrategy type to be used for the higher writing speed and the samerecording layer, wherein the second write strategy type for the higherwriting speed is the same as the first write strategy type or a writestrategy type different than the first write strategy type, and thefirst write strategy type for the higher writing speed is mandatory typeto be used necessarily for at least the higher writing speed or apreferred type determined based on a preference among the plurality ofwrite strategy types applicable to the higher writing speed and the samerecording layer; and recording data on a specific recording layer at aspecific writing speed based on at least one information unit among thefirst and second information units.

In another aspect of the present invention, a recording apparatusincludes a controller for generating a recording command; and arecorder/reproducer for performing a recording, based on the generatedrecording command, by reading a control information, the controlinformation including at least one information unit for a writing speedand recording layer, characterized in that the information unit includeswrite strategy parameters for first write strategy type to be used forthe writing speed and recording layer, wherein the first write strategytype is one of a plurality of write strategy types applicable to thesame writing speed and recording layer, and the first write strategytype is mandatory type to be used necessarily for at least the specificwriting speed or a preferred type determined based on a preference amongthe plurality of write strategy types applicable to the same writingspeed and recording layer.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description of the present invention areexemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide furtherexplanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention andtogether with the description serve to explain the principle of theinvention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a single-layer disc applicable to the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a dual-layer disc applicable to the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a management area where disc control informationof the present invention is recorded, illustrating a disc informationrecording format;

FIGS. 4A-4E are diagrams of a sample data structure of disc controlinformation recorded according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams of a sample data structure of disc controlinformation recorded according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 6A & 6B and FIG. 7 are diagrams of another sample data structureof disc control information recorded according to the second embodimentof the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an optical disc recording and reproducingapparatus according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be usedthroughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. Forconvenience of explanation, a Blu-ray disc (BD) is taken as an exampleof an optical disc according to the present invention. Yet, it isapparent that the concept of the present invention, which ischaracterized in an optical disc having its disc control informationrecorded thereon, is applicable to DVD-RAM/-RW/+RW/-R/+R and the likefor example in the same manner.

Besides, although terms used in the present invention are possiblyselected from the currently well-known ones, some terms are arbitrarilychosen by the applicant in some cases so that their meanings areexplained in detail in the following description. Hence, the presentinvention should be understood with the intended meanings of thecorresponding terms chosen by the applicant instead of the simple namesor meanings of the terms themselves.

First of all, ‘disc control information’ in the description of thepresent invention means an area including various information for discrecord playback or information for disc record playback. And, the disccontrol information is commonly designated information provided to aprerecorded area within a disc or to an embossed area for a disc user bya disc manufacturer. Yet, the disc control information is provided notonly to the prerecorded area but also to a recordable area. The discinformation within the prerecorded or embossed area can be copied to therecordable area as well. And, they are just exemplary.

For instance, the disc control information is called ‘disc information’in BD or ‘physical format information’ in DVD-RAM/-RW/+RW/-R/+R. Hence,it is apparent that the technical background of the present invention isidentically applicable to ‘physical format information’ inDVD-RAM/-RW/+RW/-R/+R. For convenience of explanation, ‘disc information(hereinafter abbreviated DI)’ corresponding to a case of Blu-ray disc(BD) is taken as an example.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are structural diagrams of optical discs according tothe present invention, in which a recordable optical disc is enough tobe the optical disc applicable to the present invention. Moreover, therecordable disc can be any one of a rewritable optical disc, awrite-once optical disc, and the like.

FIG. 1 is a structural diagram of a single-layer disc having onerecording layer according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a lead-in area is provided as a management area onan inner circumference area of an optical disc, whereas a lead-out areais provided as a management area on an outer circumference area of theoptical disc. Specifically, a prerecorded area and a rewritable orwrite-once area are separated from each other within the innercircumference area of the disc.

The prerecorded area is an area (called ‘embossed area’) where data wasalready written in manufacturing the disc, whereby a user or system isunable to perform data writing on the prerecorded area at all. InBD-RE/WO, the prerecorded area is named PIC (permanent information andcontrol data) area. And, the above-described disc information(hereinafter called ‘DI’) as information required for disc recording isrecorded in the PIC area.

In a data area, provided are a user data area where user's real data isrecorded and spare areas ISA and OSA to replace a generated defect area.Specifically, TDMA (temporary defect management area) for recordinginformation of defect and general managements is provided to such awrite-once optical disc as BD-WO. In case of the re-writable BD (BD-RE),TDMA is unnecessary so that such an area is left as a reserved area.

The present invention intends to provide a method of efficientlyrecording disc information (DI) as disc control information required forrecord playback of a disc in the prerecorded or recordable area. It isapparent that a recording method in the prerecorded area is differentlyapplied to each kind of discs. In case of BD-RE/WO, the PIC area as theprerecorded area is recorded by biphased high frequency modulatedsignals, the high frequency modulated signals in the corresponding areaare played back according to a specific playback method, and informationis acquired from the playback.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a dual-layer disc having dual recording layers,in which a recording layer starting with a lead-in is named a firstrecording layer Layer0 and a recording layer ending with a lead-out isnamed a second recording layer Layer1.

In the dual-layer disc, the PIC area is provided to lead-in and lead-outareas of a disc inner circumference area, and disc information (DI) ofthe same contents is recorded in the PIC area.

FIG. 3 is a structural diagram of a PIC area in the disc shown in FIG. 1or FIG. 2. As mentioned in the foregoing description, it means thatinformation can be rearranged like the structure of the PIC area in FIG.3 when the entire information within the high frequency modulated PICarea is acquired.

A method of configuring disc information (DI) in the PIC area isexplained in detail as follows.

In BD-RE/WO, ‘one cluster’ represents a minimum record unit, fivehundred forty-four clusters gather to construct one fragment as oneupper record unit, and total five fragments gather to form the PIC area.Disc information is recorded in a front head cluster of a first fragmentIF0. The disc information is plurally recorded per recording layer andwriting speed permitted by the corresponding optical disc, and one discinformation includes one hundred twelve bytes. Specifically, discinformation constructed with 112-bytes is called disc information (DI)frame. Moreover, the same contents of the disc information arerepeatedly recorded in each front head cluster of the rest of thefragments, thereby enabling to cope with loss of the disc information.

Information representing the corresponding recording layer, informationrepresenting writing speed, and write strategy information correspondingto the writing speed are recorded within each disc information. Hence,such information is utilized in record playback of the correspondingoptical disc, thereby enabling to provide optimal write power perrecording layer and per writing speed.

Namely, the disc information (DI) of the present invention ischaracterized in providing specific writing speed information supportedby the corresponding disc and associated write strategy information, andmore specifically, in providing specific writing speed supported foreach recording layer and associated write strategy information via aspecified method in case that a plurality of recording layers exist inthe corresponding disc.

And, the specific configuration of the disc information (DI) relates tothat of Blu-ray disc (BD). It is also apparent that a DVD based disc mayhave a configuration different from the above-explained structure.Specifically, if a size of disc information (DI) corresponds to that ofBD, it is 112 bytes equivalently for example. Yet, by regarding discinformation (DI) of the same recording layer as one information toprovide once without repeating common information, it may be able toconfigure the write strategy differing per writing speed only inaddition.

Various embodiments for a method of configuring disc information and amethod of recording specific information and the like within discinformation according to the present invention are explained in detailby referring to the attached drawings as follows.

FIGS. 4A to 4E are diagrams of recording disc information of an opticaldisc according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in whichone of a plurality of write strategy (WS) types defined by aspecification is recorded on a corresponding disc information.

FIG. 4A shows a concept of recording disc information of an optical discaccording to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4A, a plurality of disc informations are recordedwithin a disc, a record sequence of each disc information is decided bya sequence number, and the record sequence is recorded by 1-byte. Forinstance, the corresponding information is recorded in 5^(th) bytewithin the disc information, which is named ‘DI frame sequence number inDI block’ field and is briefly indicated by ‘00h, 01h, 02h, 03h . . . ’.

Namely, the information of the 5^(th) byte is defined in a followingmanner. First of all, if the information of the 5^(th) byte is ‘00h’,‘00h’ means 1^(st) disc information as well as disc information of 1×speed of a first recording layer Layer0. ‘01h’ means 2^(nd) discinformation as well as disc information of 1× speed of a secondrecording layer Layer1. ‘02h’ means 3^(rd) disc information as well asdisc information of 2× speed of the first recording layer Layer0. And,‘03h’ means 4^(th) disc information as well as disc information of 2×speed of the second recording layer Layer1.

Hence, the disc information is preferentially arranged in a recordingvelocity order and is then configured in a per recording layer order.Yet, this is just exemplary. On the contrary, the recording layer ordercan be preferred to the recording velocity order in configuring discinformations.

Moreover, write strategy (WS) interoperating with recording velocitymeant by the corresponding disc information is recorded in a specificarea, e.g., area named ‘Write Strategy parameters’ field asL^(th)˜111^(th) bytes, within the disc information. And, identificationinformation enabling to identify a type or kind of the recorded writestrategy (WS) recorded in the L^(th)˜111^(th) bytes is recorded inanother specific area, e.g., area named ‘Write Strategy type’ field asN^(th) byte, within the disc information.

Considering the meaning of ‘write strategy (WS)’, a medium property of arecording layer is generally modified by applying a laser beam to therecording layer within an optical disc via a pickup (‘11’ in FIG. 8) toperform a recording thereof. Hence, it should be decided a strength(write power) of the laser beam, a time of applying the write powerthereto, and the like. The above-decided various kinds of writestrategies are named ‘Write Strategy (WS)’ in general and specificcontents recorded within a specific ‘Write Strategy (WS)’ are named‘Write Strategy (WS) parameters’.

Write strategy (WS) information used in the present invention means theentire information associated with write strategy (WS). And, ‘WSparameters’ means items and specific numeric values configuring WS andis a sort of WS information. Hence, the WS information has an inclusiveconcept of including the above-described ‘WS Type’, ‘WS flag’ that willbe explained later, and the like as well as the WS parameters.

And, the write strategy (WS) can be recorded in various ways. As a disctends to be highly densified and to run at higher speed, a writingspeed, i.e., disc RPM) as well as the medium property of the recordinglayer is considerably affected. Hence, a more accurate system isrequested. And, the various write strategies (WS) are explained asfollows for example.

First of all, there is a system having a recording pulse smaller by 1than a recording mark size (n) formed on a recording layer medium, whichmay be called ‘(n−1) WS’. For example, if a mark has a length 7T, itrequires 6 pluses to form the 7T according to the (n−1)WS. In that case,a time of each write pulse or a level of write power is defined by thewrite strategy parameters recorded in the corresponding discinformation. Secondly, there is a system having a recording pulse havinga size amounting to a half of the recording mark size (n), which may becalled ‘n/2 WS’. For example, if a mark has a length 7T, it requires 3pluses to form the 7T according to the (n−1)WS. That is, a decimalfraction of the result is discarded and the integer numbers of plusesare only available. In that case, a time of each write pulse or a levelof write power is defined by the write strategy parameters recorded inthe corresponding disc information. The respective write strategyparameters for each write strategy type may have different values eachother. Besides, new write strategies (WS) keep being developed.Regarding the different types of write strategies (WS), when there existthe various systems of the write strategy (WS) as parameters applied tothe write strategies (WS) differ from each other, a disc manufacturertests the write power according to the write strategy (WS) and thenrecords a result of the test in ‘WS parameters’ field of theL^(th)˜111^(th) bytes within the disc information and WS typeinformation in N^(th) byte.

If there exist N-types of write strategies (WS), the identificationinformation allocates a specific recognition value to each writestrategy (WS) to define as follows. For instance, ‘0000 0001b’ means1^(st) WS (Write Strategy-1 or WS-1). ‘0000 0010b’ means 2^(nd) WS(Write Strategy-2 or WS-2). ‘XXXX XXXXb’ means N^(th) WS (WriteStrategy-N or WS-N).

In the present invention, 1^(st) WS (WS-1) is defined by theabove-explained ‘(n−1) WS’ and 2^(nd) WS (WS-1) is defined by ‘(n/2)WS’, for example.

Moreover, if the ‘WS Type’ field is set to ‘0000 0000b’, it can bedefined to mean that a specific WS type fails to exist as well as WSparameters within disc information. Namely, the ‘WS Type’ field of theN^(th) byte can be utilized as information indicating that there existsno WS as well as information designating the WS type.

FIG. 4B shows an example of recording disc information for a specificwrite strategy (WS), in which a disc manufacturer selects to record1^(st) WS (WS-1) from WSs (write strategies) according to variousspecifications in recording a write strategy (WS) for 1× speed within 1×speed disc information of a first recording layer.

Namely, if ‘WS Type’ field of N^(th) byte of disc information is ‘0000001b’ means 1^(st) WS (WS-1), parameter values corresponding to theWS-1 are written in ‘Write Strategy parameters’ field of L^(th)˜111^(th)bytes.

Hence, in case that a disc manufacturer selects to record 2^(nd) WS(WS-2), ‘0000 0010b’ is written in the ‘Write Strategy Type’ field andparameters fitting the 2^(nd) WS will be written in the L^(th)˜111^(th)bytes. The parameters written in the L^(th)˜111^(th) bytes havedifferent values from each other according to the write strategy (WS)type. And, the corresponding write strategy (WS) parameters arepreviously determined as specified information fitting thecharacteristics of the disc and will be provided to a disc manufactureror a system designer.

FIGS. 4C to 4E show specific embodiments for a method of recording theabove-defined write strategy (WS) within disc information. FIG. 4C andFIG. 4D show the method that the write strategy (WS) is optionallyselected to be recorded for the entire recording layers and recordingvelocities on manufacturing a disc. And, FIG. 4E shows a method ofrecording a previously determined write strategy (WS) in a mandatorymanner in case of a specific recording velocity.

For convenience of explanation, it is assumed that a disc includes adual layer and that 1× speed (1×) and 2× speed (2×) are applied to eachrecording layer.

FIG. 4C shows a case of enabling to optionally different record writestrategies (WS) in the entire recording layers and at the entirerecording velocities. For instance, disc information of 1× speed of afirst recording layer Layer0 is recorded in ‘00h’ as a disc informationsequence and 1^(st) WS (WS-1) is selected to be recorded as a writestrategy (WS). Disc information of 1× speed of a second recording layerLayer1 is recorded in ‘01h’ and 2^(nd) WS (WS-2) is selected to berecorded as a write strategy (WS). Disc information of 2× speed of thefirst recording layer Layer0 is recorded in ‘02h’ and 1^(st) WS (WS-1)is selected to be recorded as a write strategy (WS). And, discinformation of 2× speed of the second recording layer Layer1 is recordedin ‘03h’ and N^(th) WS (WS-N) is selected to be recorded as a writestrategy (WS). In such a case, write strategy parameters for 1^(st) WS(WS-1), e.g., (n−1) write strategy type, to be used for 1× speed of afirst recording layer (Layer 0) may have different values from that tobe used for 2× speed of the a first recording layer (Layer 0).

FIG. 4D shows another example of enabling to optionally record a writestrategy (WS), in which the same type of write strategy (WS) is appliedto disc information relating to the entire recording layers andrecording velocities. In such a case, write strategy parameters forspecific recording layer and/or writing speed may have different valuesfrom that for other recording layer and/or writing speed respectively.

Namely, since it is able to record a write strategy optionally, a discmanufacturer enables to apply one most reliable write strategy (WS) tothe entire disc information identically. And, FIG. 4D illustrates a casethat 1^(st) WS (WS-1) is recorded in the entire disc information.

FIG. 4E shows a method of recording a write strategy (WS) previouslydetermined in a mandatory manner in case of a specific recordingvelocity or a write strategy (WS) optionally in case of a rest recordingvelocity. Generally, write strategy (WS) for 1× speed is the mostimportant write strategy of which specific method is previously decidedby a specified decision and a disc manufacturer enables to optionallyrecord the rest recording velocities except the 1× speed. Yet, in caseof a high-speed disc, it is apparent that the recording velocity decidedin a mandatory manner can be 2× speed, 3× speed, or the like as well as1× speed.

For instance, if a write strategy (WS) type mandatory for the 1× speedis 1^(st) WS (WS-1), disc information for 1× speed of a first recordinglayer is written in ‘00h’ and ‘01h’ as a disc information sequence andthe 1^(st) WS (WS-1) should be written as the write strategy (WS) in amandatory manner. Disc information for 2× speed of the first recordinglayer is written in ‘02h’ and ‘03h’ and 2^(nd) WS (WS-2) is selected tobe recorded as the write strategy (WS) that can be optionally recorded.Hence, if the write strategy (WS) type mandatory for 1× speed is the2^(nd) WS (WS-2), it is apparent that the 2^(nd) WS (WS-2) should berecorded in a mandatory manner as well as ‘00h’ and ‘01h’ as the discinformation sequence record the disc information of 1× speed therein.

In applying the case of FIG. 4E, one of a plurality of specified writestrategies is uniformly written as the 1× speed write strategy (WS) in amandatory manner, thereby enabling to secure more disc recordingcharacteristics. And, a disc manufacturer enables to optionally recordone of a plurality of the specified write strategies uniformly for therest recording velocities except the 1× speed, whereby a discmanufacturing process time can be shortened.

Besides, in specific case of FIG. 4E, it is also able to record themandatory write strategy (WS) for 1× speed as well as a discmanufacturer enables to optionally record other write strategy (WS) for1× speed separately. In such a case, the disc information for 1× speedcan include disc information including the specified mandatory writestrategy (WS) and different disc information including the optionalwrite strategy (WS). This will be explained in the description of asecond embodiment of the present invention (FIGS. 5A to 7) in detaillater.

FIGS. 5A to 7 show a method of recording disc information of an opticaldisc according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Thesecond embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that atleast one write strategy (WS) is configured for a same writingspeed/recording layer. Namely, a plurality of disc informationsassociated with the same writing speed/recording layer can exist to beclassified by WS types, respectively.

FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B show concepts of the method of recording discinformation of the optical disc according to the second embodiment ofthe present invention, in which a sequence for disc information each isdecided by a sequence number and is recorded by 1-byte.

For instance, the corresponding information is recorded in 5^(th) bytewithin disc information, is named ‘DI frame sequence number in DIblock’, and is briefly represented by ‘00h, 01h, 02h, . . . ’. Namely,if the information of the 5^(th) byte is ‘00h’, it means 1^(st) discinformation. If the information of the 5^(th) byte is ‘07h’, it means8^(th) disc information.

In configuring disc information, the present invention is characterizedin that disc information is separately provided per writing speed, perrecording layer, and per write strategy (WS) and that a configurationsequence of a plurality of the separately provided disc informations isuniformly decided according to a predetermined manner.

For instance, if a corresponding optical disc includes a pair ofrecoding layers and a plurality of WS types exist, disc informations canbe configured in a following manner.

‘00h’ of 1^(st) disc information is related to 1× speed, 1 ^(st)recording layer L0, and WS1. ‘01h’ of 2^(nd) disc information is relatedto 1× speed, 1^(st) recording layer L0, and WS2. ‘02h’ of 3^(rd) discinformation is related to 1× speed, 2^(nd) recording layer L1, and WS1.‘03h’ of 4^(th) disc information is related to 1× speed, 2^(nd)recording layer L1, and WS2. ‘04h’ of 5^(th) disc information is relatedto 2× speed, 1^(st) recording layer L0, and WS1. ‘05h’ of 6^(th) discinformation is related to 2× speed and 1^(st) recording layer L0, andWS3. ‘06h’ of 7^(th) disc information is related to 2× speed, 2^(nd)recording layer L1, and WS1. And, ‘07h’ of 8^(th) disc information isrelated to 2× speed, 2^(nd) recording layer L1, and WS3.

Namely, in configuring disc informations, the second embodimentaccording to the present invention is characterized in that at least onedisc information is configured per writing speed, the respective perwriting speed disc informations are reconfigured per recording layer,and at least one WS type is provided to each recording layer.

Hence, in configuring disc informations for the same writingspeed/recording layer, it is able to configure a plurality of discinformations according to WS types.

FIG. 5A shows that a disc manufacturer arbitrarily selects to record theentire WSs for the same writing speed/recording layer, in which the WSrecorded in the entire disc informations becomes ‘optional WS’.

FIG. 5B, shows that the WS decided in a mandatory manner is applied to aportion of a plurality of disc informations for a same writingspeed/recording layer and that the WS arbitrarily selected by a discmanufacturer is applied to the rest of a plurality of the discinformation, in which ‘mandatory WS’ is recorded in a front one of aplurality of the disc informations for the same writing speed/recordinglayer and ‘optional WS’ is recorded in the disc information followingthe front one.

In FIG. 5B, 1^(st) WS (WS-1) is taken as an example of ‘mandatory WS’ at1× speed or 2× speed. Yet, it is apparent that the ‘mandatory WS’ for 1×speed can be different from that for 2× speed according to a decision ofa corresponding specification.

FIG. 6A shows an example of configuring disc information according tothe second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6A, ‘DI frame sequence number in DI block’ is providedto 5^(th) byte of each disc information to mean a sequence, which meansthat disc informations are configured in a specific order (writingspeed→recording layer→WS type).

And, ‘Write Strategy (WS) Type’ filed is provided to a specific area(N^(th) byte) within disc information and WS type information is writtenin the corresponding field.

Moreover, information of informing a type of write strategy (WS)applicable by a specification of a corresponding disc is recorded inanother specific area (K^(th) byte) within the disc information, whichis named ‘Write Strategy (WS) flag’ field. For instance, whether aspecific write strategy (WS) of eight types of write strategies (WS) isapplicable by the corresponding disc is represented by 1-bit each in thesame area having 1-byte allocated thereto. Namely, it can be definedthat the corresponding write strategy (WS) is not applicable (supported)if a bit value is ‘0b’ in entire bits or that the corresponding writestrategy (WS) is applicable (supported) if the bit value is ‘1b’. Hence,each of the bits b0˜b7 within 1-byte becomes flag information indicatingapplicability of a specific write strategy (WS). For instance, if 1^(st)to 3^(rd) type write strategies WS1 to WS3 are applicable by acorresponding disc only, ‘0000 0111b’ is written in L^(th) byte. If allof the eight types of write strategies (WS1 to WS8) are applicable,‘1111 1111b’ is written in the L^(th) byte. In FIG. 6A, ‘0000 1111b’ iswritten in the K^(th) byte to indicate that four WS types WS1 to WS4 areapplicable.

Specifically, it may be able to record disc information per writestrategy (WS) type in configuring the disc informations. Yet, in such acase, the number of the recorded disc informations excessivelyincreases. Moreover, a disc manufacturer should test the entire writestrategy (WS) types and record the test results within the discinformation, whereby it becomes a burden.

Therefore, in the embodiment according to the present invention, writestrategies (WS) of which number (m) is smaller than that (n) of themaximum applicable write strategy types are recordable within discinformation and a disc manufacturer further enables to optionally recorda specific one of a plurality of write strategies (WS), whereby discmanufacturer's convenience is secured as well as an efficient recordingof disc information is enabled.

In FIG. 6A, recording is performed at 1× speed (1×) using 1^(st) and2^(nd) type write strategies WS1 and WS2, at 2× speed (2×) using 2^(nd)and 3^(rd) type write strategies WS2 and WS3, or at 3^(rd) writing speed(3×) using 3^(rd) and 4^(th) type write strategies WS3 and WS4.

Namely, it is able to record disc information using write strategy (WS)types (two types) less than total applicable write strategy (WS) types(four types) per writing speed. And, the intrinsic write strategy (WS)applied to each disc information can be confirmed or verified via ‘WriteStrategy (WS) Type’ field (N^(Th) byte) and ‘Write Strategy (WS)parameters’ filed (P^(th)˜111^(th) bytes).

FIG. 6B shows another example of recording disc information according tothe second embodiment of the present invention. Like FIG. 6A, fourapplicable write strategy types exist and ‘0000 1111b’ is written inK^(th) byte.

Specifically, in configuring disc information using one of a pluralityof applicable write strategies (WS), at least one disc information isconfigured per the same writing speed and recording layer. In doing so,the most preferentially provided disc information is defined aspreferred WS provided by a disc manufacturer and another discinformation following the preferred WS is defined as alternative WS.

Namely, both disc information ‘00h’ and disc information ‘01h’ relate to1× speed (1×) and 1^(st) recording layer (L0). Yet, the WS1 typeinformation recorded in ‘00h’ as preferentially provided discinformation becomes the preferred WS and the WS1 type informationrecorded in ‘01h’ as a next provided one becomes the alternative WS.

And, disc information ‘04h’, disc information ‘05h’, and discinformation ‘06h’ relate to 2× speed (2×) and 1^(st) recording layer(L0). Yet, the WS2 type information recorded in ‘04h’ as preferentiallyprovided disc information becomes the preferred WS, and the WS1 typeinformation recorded in ‘05h’ and the WS3 type information recorded in‘06h’as next provided ones become the alternative WSs, respectively.Namely, they can be applied to at least three disc informations of thesame writing speed/recording layer.

Moreover, disc information ‘10h’ relates to 3^(rd) speed (3^(rd) X) and1^(st) recording layer (L0) and disc information ‘10h’ relates to 3^(rd)speed (3^(rd) X) and 2^(nd) recording layer (L0). In case that only oneWS type information is provided to the same writing speed/recordinglayer, the provided WS becomes the preferred WS.

Namely, when a disc manufacturer provides disc informations within adisc according to the previously determined specification, an opticalrecord playback apparatus (FIG. 8) reads out the disc information in aspecific order (e.g., writing speed→recording layer). If a plurality ofdisc informations exist on the same writing speed/recording layer, theoptical record playback apparatus (FIG. 10) recognizes thepreferentially provided WS within the disc information as the preferredWS and the next WS as the alternative WS additionally provided by a discmanufacturer, thereby enabling record playback using disc informationefficiently.

Even if both of the preferred WS and the alternative WS are ‘optionalWS’ a disc manufacturer enables to select optionally, it may be possibleto render the preferred WS into ‘mandatory WS’ and the alternative WSinto ‘optional WS’ only.

FIG. 7 shows another example of recording disc information according thesecond embodiment of the present invention, in which a disc manufacturerdirectly provides information of a most preferred write strategy (WS)type at a specific writing speed.

Referring to FIG. 7, ‘Write Strategy (WS) Type’ field (N^(th) byte) and‘Write Strategy (WS) flag’ field (K^(th) byte) are recorded in N^(th)and K^(th) bytes within disc information, respectively. Meaning of eachinformation recorded in the fields is the same of that in FIG. 6A andFIG. 6B.

And, ‘Best WS flag in Writing speed’ field is provided to anotherspecific area (Q^(th) byte) within disc information, whereby a discmanufacturer provides information of a WS indicating a best qualityamong a plurality of write strategies (WS) existing per same writingspeed. For example, FIG. 7 shows that 2^(nd) WS (WS2) is the ‘Best WS’of eight applicable WSs at a specific writing speed.

In case that a plurality of WSs enable to exist for the same writingspeed/recording layer like FIG. 6A, an optical record playback apparatus(FIG. 8) is unable to distinguish which is the most appropriate WS for acorresponding writing speed. Hence, the optical record play backapparatus computes the optimal WS by applying the entire WSs provided tothe disc information. Yet, by providing the ‘Best WS flag in Writingspeed’ field to the Q^(th) byte, it is able to apply to utilize the WSrecorded in the Q^(th) byte preferentially.

In case that a plurality of WSs exist for the same writingspeed/recording layer like FIG. 6B, it is able to recognize the WSrecorded in 1^(st) disc information as the preferred WS by a previouslyspecified decided method. Yet, by providing the ‘Best WS flag in Writingspeed’ field to the Q^(th) byte, it is able to reconfirm the preferredWS as well. Moreover, in case that the preferred WS recorded in the1^(st) disc information for the same writing speed/recording layer isdifferent from the ‘Best WS flag in Writing speed’ information of theQ^(th) byte, e.g., if the preferred WS is ‘mandatory WS’ decided in amandatory manner, a priority is given to the information of the Q^(th)byte provided by a disc manufacturer, thereby enabling to provide theinformation more efficiently in deciding the optimal WS at the samewriting speed.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an optical disc record playback accordingto the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 8, a record playback apparatus according to thepresent invention includes a record playback unit 10 carrying out recordplayback on an optical disc and a control unit 20 controlling the recordplayback unit 10.

The control unit 20 gives a record or playback command for a specificarea, and the record playback unit 10 caries out the record/playback forthe specific area according to the command of the control unit 20.Specifically, the record playback unit 10 includes an interface unit 12performing communications with an external device, a pickup unit 11directly recording data on the optical disc or playing back the data, adata processor 13 receiving a playback signal from the pickup unit 11 torestore into a necessary signal value or modulating to deliver a signalto be recorded into a signal to be recorded on the optical disc, a servounit 14 reading out a signal from the optical disc correctly orcontrolling the pickup unit 11 to record a signal on the optical disccorrectly, a memory 15 temporarily storing disc control informationincluding disc control information, and a microcomputer 16 responsiblefor controlling the above-described elements within the record playbackunit 10.

A recording process of an optical disc according to the presentinvention is explained in detail as follows.

First of all, once an optical disc is loaded in the optical recordplayback apparatus, the entire disc management information within thedisc is read out to be temporarily stored in the memory 15 of the recordplayback unit 10. Also, a specific disc management information only canbe read from the optical disc. And, various kinds of the disc managementinformation are utilized for the record/playback of the optical disc.Specifically, the management information stored in the memory 15includes disc control information of the present invention. Hence, therecording layer information, writing speed information, and writestrategy fitting the corresponding writing speed recorded within thedisc information are read out to be stored in the memory.

If intending to perform a recording on a specific area within theoptical disc, the control unit 20 renders such an intent into a writingcommand and then delivers it to the record playback unit 10 togetherwith data for writing location information to be recorded. Afterreceiving the writing command, the microcomputer 16 decides or selectsthe corresponding writing speed to be applied to an intended recordinglayer within the optical disc from the management informations stored inthe memory 15 and then performs the writing command using a(pre-)determined or selected write strategy type and the write strategyparameters applicable to the decided or selected writing speed.

Specifically, in the present invention, the disc information asmanagement information is provided in a specific order and themicrocomputer 16 recognizes which WS is the preferred WS of the discmanufacturer in the same writing speed and recording layer. Therefore,it is more facilitated to perform the recording on a specific recodinglayer within an optical disc at a specific writing speed.

Accordingly, the present invention provides various methods of providingdisc control information coping with higher writing speed in ahigh-density optical disc, thereby enabling to uniformly apply thestandardized disc control information to efficiently cope with therecord/playback of the optical disc.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made in the present invention. Thus,it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications andvariations of this invention provided they come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

1. A recording method comprising: reading control information from apre-recorded area of a recording medium; and recording the controlinformation on a recordable area included in a lead-in area of therecording medium, wherein the control information includes first andsecond information units usable for controlling a recording of a maindata on a data area of the recording medium, and the first informationunit includes write strategy parameters for a n−1 write strategy type,which is a mandatory type to be used necessarily for recording the maindata on the data area of a first recording layer at a specific recordingspeed and the second information unit includes write strategy parametersfor a n/2 write strategy type which is a mandatory type to be usednecessarily for recording the main data on the data area of a secondrecording layer at the specific recording speed, n is a length of markand each write strategy type represents a number of write pulses to forma corresponding mark.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:recording the main data on the data area of the first recording layer atthe specific recording speed based on the n−1 write strategy type, andrecording the main data on the data area of the second recording layerat the specific recording speed based on the n/2 write strategy type. 3.The method of claim 2, wherein the control information further includesat least one alternative information unit for a same recording layer,the at least one alternative information unit including write strategyparameters being usable for a recording speed different from thespecific recording speed, and the at least one alternative informationunits are preceded by one of the first and second information unit. 4.An apparatus for recording data on a recording medium, the apparatuscomprising: An optical pickup configured to read control informationfrom a pre-recorded area of the recording medium and record the controlinformation on a recordable area included in a lead-in area of therecording medium, wherein the control information includes first andsecond information units usable for controlling a recording of a maindata on a data area of the recording medium, and the first informationunit includes write strategy parameters for a n−1 write strategy typewhich is a mandatory type to be used necessarily for recording main dataon the data area of a first recording layer at a specific recordingspeed and the second information unit includes write strategy parametersfor a n/2 write strategy type which is a mandatory type to be usednecessarily for recording the main data on the data area of a secondrecording layer at the specific recording speed; and a controller,operatively coupled to the optical pickup, configured to control theoptical pickup to record the main data on a data area of the recordingmedium at the specific recording speed based on the n−1 or n/2 writestrategy type, where n is a length of mark and each write strategy typehas different write strategy parameters and represents a number of writepulses to form a mark.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein thecontroller configured to control the optical pickup to record the maindata on the first recording layer based on the n−1 write strategy typeand record the main data on the second recording layer based on the n/2write strategy type.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the opticalpickup is configured to at least one of record the main data using thenumber of write pulses one less than the mark length to form acorresponding mark if the n−1 write strategy type is applied, and recordthe main data using the number of pulses corresponding to half the marklength to form a corresponding mark if the n/2 write strategy type isapplied, the integer number of pulses from the result being onlyavailable, according to the control of the controller.
 7. The apparatusof claim 6, wherein the control information further includes at leastone alternative information unit for a same recording layer, the atleast one alternative information unit including write strategyparameters being usable for a recording speed different from thespecific recording speed, and the at least one alternative informationunits are preceded by one of the first and second information units, andwherein the controller is further configured to identify write strategyparameters for a corresponding recording speed and control the opticalpickup to record the main data by using the identified write strategyparameters.
 8. An apparatus for recording data on the recording mediumhaving one or more recording layers, comprising: an optical pickupconfigured to read or record data from or on the recording medium; aservo, operatively coupled to the optical pickup, configured to controla servo operation of the optical pickup according to a recording speed;a memory configured to store control information, the controlinformation including a first and second information units usable forcontrolling a recording of the data on a data area of the recordingmedium; and a controller, operatively coupled to the optical pickup,servo and memory, configured to identify one of the first and secondinformation units and control the optical pickup to record the data onthe data area by using write strategy parameters included in theidentified one of the first and second information unit, wherein thefirst information unit includes write strategy parameters for a n−1write strategy type which is a mandatory type to be used necessarily forrecording the data on the data area of a first recording layer at aspecific recording speed and the second information unit includes writestrategy parameters for a n/2 write strategy type which is a mandatorytype to be used necessarily for recording the data on the data area of asecond recording layer at the specific recording speed, n is a length ofmark and each write strategy type represents a number of write pulses toform a corresponding mark.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein thecontroller is configured to control the optical pickup to record thedata on the first recording layer by using the n−1 write strategy typeand on the second recording layer by using the n/2 write strategy type.10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the optical pickup is configuredto record the main data using the number of write pulses one less thanthe mark length to form a corresponding mark if the n−1 write strategytype is applied, and to record the main data using the number of pulsescorresponding to half the mark length to form a corresponding mark ifthe n/2 write strategy type is applied, the integer number of pulsesfrom the result being only available, according to the control of thecontroller.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the controlinformation further includes at least one alternative information unitfor a same recording layer, the at least one alternative informationunit including write strategy parameters being usable for a recordingspeed different from the specific recording speed, and the at least onealternative information unit is preceded by one of the first and secondinformation unit, and wherein the controller is further configured toidentify write strategy parameters for a corresponding recording speedand control the optical pickup to record the main data by using theidentified one of the write strategy parameters.
 12. The apparatus ofclaim 11, wherein the apparatus is a DVD recorder.
 13. A recordingmedium comprising: a first area storing control information forcontrolling recording of data on a recording layer included in therecording medium, the control information including write strategyparameters for a n−1 write strategy type being usable for a firstrecording layer at a specific recording speed; and a second area storingcontrol information including write strategy parameters for a n/2 writestrategy type being usable for a second recording layer at the specificrecording speed, wherein the n−1 write strategy type is mandatory typeto be used necessarily for the first recording layer at the specificrecording speed and the n/2 write strategy type is mandatory type to beused necessarily for a second recording layer at a same recording speed,n is a length of mark and each write strategy type represents a numberof write pulses to form a corresponding mark.
 14. The recording mediumof claim 13, wherein the control information included in the first andsecond areas is pre-recorded.
 15. The recording medium of claim 13,wherein the pre-recorded control information included in the first areafurther includes at least one alternative write strategy parameter forthe n−1 write strategy type being usable for the first recording layerat a recording speed different from the specific recording speed, andthe at least one alternative write strategy parameter is preceded by thewrite strategy parameters for the specific recording speed.
 16. Therecording medium of claim 13, wherein the pre-recorded controlinformation included in the second area further includes at least onealternative write strategy parameter for the n/2 write strategy typebeing usable for the second recording layer at a recording speeddifferent from the specific recording speed, and the at least onealternative write strategy parameter is preceded by the write strategyparameters for the specific recording speed.
 17. The recording medium ofclaim 13, further comprising: a recordable area for storing the controlinformation copied from the first and second areas, wherein therecordable area is located in a lead-in area of the computer-readablemedium.
 18. The recording medium of claim 17, wherein thecomputer-readable medium is a recordable DVD disc and the controlinformation is physical format information in the recordable DVD disc.19. A recording medium, comprising: a data area for storing a main data;and a lead-in area for storing control information which includes firstand second information units usable for controlling a recording of themain data on the data area of the computer-readable medium, wherein thefirst information unit includes write strategy parameters for a n−1write strategy type which is a mandatory type to be used necessarily forrecording the main data on the data area of a first recording layer at aspecific recording speed and the second information unit includes writestrategy parameters for a n/2 write strategy type which is a mandatorytype to be used necessarily for recording the main data on the data areaof a second recording layer at the specific recording speed, n is alength of mark and each write strategy type represents a number of writepulses to form a corresponding mark.
 20. The recording medium of claim19, wherein the computer-readable medium is a recordable DVD disc andthe control information is physical format information in the recordableDVD disc.